Lamp construction

ABSTRACT

A lamp construction which includes a translucent lamp shade and a lamp socket fixture mounted therein. The lamp socket fixture is fixed to a cross brace and the cross brace is, in turn, fixed to the lamp shade. The cross brace is provided with end tabs which are received in slots provided in the lamp shade. According to one aspect of this invention, the cross brace is mounted in a vertical position in substantial alignment with the lamp socket fixture to minimize shadows on the lamp shade and to maximize cooling, convection air currents through the lamp shade to cool the lamp socket fixture.

United States Patent Wiltshire Aug. 8, 1972 [54] LAMP CONSTRUCTION [7 21Inventor: Arthur J. Wiltshire, 352 Dumbarton Blvd, Cleveland, Ohio 44124[22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1970 [21] App]. No; 67,503

[52] US. Cl. ..240/l08 R, 240/142 [51] Int. Cl ..F21v 1/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..240/108, 109, 110, 142, 143,

240/153, 78 R, 78 G, 78 E, 136

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,824,216 2/1958 Brennan.'...240/108 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,406,935 6/1965 France..240/108 R 895,096 5/1962 Great Britain ..240/l42 860,619 2/1961 GreatBritain ..240/108 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Queisser AssistantExaminer-C. E. Snee, Ill

Attorney-McNenny, Farrington, Pearne and Gordon [57] ABSTRACT A lampconstruction which includes a translucent lamp shade and a lamp socketfixture mounted therein. The lamp socket fixture is fixed to a crossbrace and the cross brace is, in turn, fixed to the lamp shade. Thecross brace is provided with end tabs which are received in slotsprovided in the lamp shade. According to one aspect of this invention,the cross brace is mounted in a vertical position in substantialalignment with the lamp socket fixture to minimize shadows on the lampshade and to maximize cooling, convection air currents through the lampshade to cool the lamp socket fixture.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Lampconstructions have been proposed in which the lamp socket base issupported by a cross member having projecting ends which are connectedto the lamp shade. In the case of a fabric lampshade having a metalframe, the connection is generally between the cross brace andthe frameitself. If the lamp shade is of a translucent plastic material, thecross brace is usually cemented to the lamp shade, or is received withina socket which is, in turn, cemented to the shade.

These prior art constructions involve time-consuming manual assemblyoperations which add tothe: cost of thelarnp.

SUMMARY OF THE This invention provides an inexpensive lamp constructionwhich may beeasily assembled by the manufacturer, or by the purchaser.Thus, diflerent' diameter lamp shades may be: nested. together forshipping purposes and may be later easily assembled by the retailer orby the purchaser without the need for special tools or adhesives.

According to one aspect. of this invention, the cross brace is a flatmember which. isfixed. to the shade so that the plane of the cross braceissubstantially vertical. This arrangement is particularly suitable forbaseup bulb mountings in swagtype lamps. The vertical position of thecross brace: minimizes shadows at the top of the lamp and maximizesconvection currents through the assembly to cool the lamp fixturesocket. This is particularly important in. base-up installations, sincein such installations thesocket temperature of the bulb is about 160 F.for a ZOO-watt A.-25 lamp. To further dissipate heat, the cross bracemay be metal, such as aluminum, so that it acts as a heat sink to absorbheat from the socket and. transfer the heat to the convection currents.If the lamp socket fixture includes an SCR dimmer control, such hightemperatures, unless dissipated, may damage the SCR dimmer control.

According to a further aspect. of this invention, the cross brace may bemounted in a horizontal plane in lamp constructions having a base+downbulb mounting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a swaglamp according to one aspect of this invention.

FIG. 2 is anenlarged cross sectional view, the plane of the sectionbeing indicated by the line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the connection between the crossbrace and the lamp fixture stem, with certain elementsomitted forclarity.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the cross bracefor the lamp illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a table lamp according to a furtheraspect of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view, theplane of the section beingindicated by the line 66 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view, the plane of the section beingindicated by the line 7-7 in FIG. 6.

2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings,and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3, a swag lamp according to oneaspect of this invention is illustrated. The swag lamp includes a shade10. The shade 10 is cylindrical and may be fabricated from a suitabletranslucent, light-diffusing material. A particularly suitable materialfor the lamp shade 10 is a fiber-reinforced plastic cylinder which maybe produced in accordance with the teachings of Randolph Reissue Pat.No. I Re 25,214. Articles produced according to the above-noted Randolphpatent which are not suitable for pressure vessel applications due todefects in their pressure-retaining characteristics and which wouldotherwise be scrapped may be fabricated into lamp shades by cuttingcylindrical sections from the sidewall of the rejected tanks. Of course,it should be appreciated that other translucent materials may beemployed without departing from this invention.

The lampshade 10 may be provided with scalloped portions 11 and 12 at.the top and bottom of the shade for aesthetic purposes. The lampshade10is provided with diametrically opposed slots 13, 14, 15,. and 16. Theslots 13 and 15 on the one hand and the slots 14 and 16 on the otherhand. are aligned with the axis of the shade 10. Across brace 17 isprovided within the shade 10. The cross brace 17 is planar and may befabricated from a suitable metal stamping for heat dissipation, or maybe fabricated from plastic or a fiber reinforced plastic if heatdissipation is not a problem. The crossbrace 17 is provided withend tabs18, 19, 20, and 21,. which are respectively received in the slots l3,14, 15,. and 16. To mountthe cross brace 17 within the shade 10,pressure may be applied to diametrically opposed portions22 and 23 ofthe lamp shade 10 to expandv the portions of the lamp shade having thenotches 13-16 therein. When the pressure is relieved, the tabs 18-21will enter the slots 13-16 and will therefore firmly attach the crossbrace 17 to the shade 10.

The cross. brace 17 is provided with a T-shaped aperture 24 at itscentral portion. Received by the aperture 24 is a threaded stem portion25 of a lamp socket fixture 26. The portion 25 is engaged by a nut 27,and a metal washer 27a and a rubber washer 27b are provided beneath thenut 27. The'nut 27, together with its washers 27a and 27b, firmly clampsthe fixture 26 in place. To prevent the fixture 26 from rotating,opposite sides of thestem portion 25 are provided with grooves 28 whichreceive projections 29 of the aperture 24.

A switch handle 30 projects radially outwardly from the fixture 26 andthrough an aperture 31 in the shade 10. The fixture 26 may be an off-ontype fixture which is operated by the handle 30, or may be an SCR dimmercontrol fixture which is operated by the handle 30 The lamp shade 10 issupported as a swag lamp by a chain 32 which is attached at one end toan aperture 33 in the cross brace 17.

The slots 13-16 and the projecting ends of the tabs 18-21 are covered bya diametrically opposed pair of a plurality of longitudinally extendingdecorative strips 34 which are provided on the outside surface of thelamp shade 10. The strips 34 may be metalized plastic having. apressure-sensitive adhesive coating thereon for application to the lampshade 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 6 of the drawings, a lamp 40 accordingto a further aspect of this invention is illustrated. The lamp 40includes a cylindrical shade 41 which may be fabricated from atranslucent material similar to the material employed in fabricating thelamp shade 10. The lamp 40 is a table lamp having supporting legs 42which are provided by removing portions from one end of the shade 41. Ofcourse, it should be appreciated that the supporting end of the lamp 40may be entirely planar, but by providing the legs 42 air circulationthrough the spaces between the legs dissipates heat from the lamp bulb.

A cross brace 43 is provided within the shade 41. The cross brace 43comprises a flat sheet which may be stamped from metal, or may be formedfrom a suitable plastic or a suitable fiber-reinforced plastic. Thecross brace 43 may be mounted in a position which is vertical (similarto the mounting arrangement of the cross brace 17), or may be mounted inthe illustrated horizontal position, since the illustrated base-downbulb mounting would not generate as much heat in the lamp socket fixtureas would a base-up bulb mounting arrangement.

The cross brace 43 is provided with projecting end tabs 44, 45, 46, and47. The projecting end tabs 44-47 are respectively received in slots 48,49, 50, and 51. The tabs 44-47 may be inserted into the slots 48-51 bycompressing diametrically opposed portions 52 and 53 of the shade 41 tooutwardly expand the portions of the shade containing the slots 48-51.While the latter-mentioned portions are expanded outwardly, the crossbrace 43 may be positioned within the shade 41 and the pressure appliedto the diametrically opposed portions 52 and 53 may be released toinsert the tabs within the slots.

The cross brace 43 supports a lamp socket fixture 54. The lamp socketfixture 54 has a threaded stem 55 which extends through an aperture 56in the cross brace 43 and a nut 57 is threaded onto the projecting endof the stem 55. A control knob 58 extends from the fixture 54 andthrough an aperture 59 in the shade 41. A cord 60 from the fixture 54may extend through an aperture 61 in one of the legs 42, or may extendthrough an opening provided by the legs 42.

A decorative trim strip 63 is applied to the shade 41 to conceal thetabs 44-47 and the slots 48-51.

The invention is not restricted to the slavish imitation of each andevery detail set forth above. Obviously, devices may be provided whichchange, eliminate, or add certain specific details without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A lamp construction comprising a shade, a substantially planar crossbrace extending radially inwardly from said shade and supporting a lampfixture thereon, said cross brace having tab means projecting outwardlyfrom its ends, said shade having slot means therethrough to provideapertures in said shade, said tab means being received in said aperturesso that said cross brace is rigidly connected to said shade, said crossbrace being mounted within said shade so that the plane of said crossbrace is substantially vertical, and said lamp fixture being fixed toand extending d d1 fr (1 b 2i c iis t ucfib n co ri i p nsmg a shade, asubstantially planar cross brace mounted within and extending radiallyinwardly from said shade so that the plane of said cross brace issubstantially vertical, said cross brace having tab means projectingoutwardly from its ends, said shade having slot means therethrough toprovide apertures in said shade, said tab means being received in saidapertures so that said cross brace is rigidly connected to said shade, aT- shaped aperture in a midportion of said cross brace, said T-shapedaperture being formed by a first opening which forms a vertical leg thatopens at the bottom edge of said cross brace and being fonned by asecond opening which forms a horizontal leg extending across the top ofsaid first opening, a lamp fixture having a threaded end stem supportedby said cross brace, said threaded stem extending along the verticalextent of said vertical leg, groove means in diametrically opposedportions of said stem, portions of said vertical leg extending into saidgroove means, and a nut threaded onto said stern and extending along thehorizontal extent of said horizontal leg.

3. A lamp construction according to claim 2, wherein suspending means isattached to said cross brace.

t I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3Dated August 8 1972 Inventor(s) ARTHUR J. WILTSHIRE It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2 line 11, "25,214" should be .25,24l-.-

Signed and sealed this 8th day of May 1973.

(SEAL) Attes't: I

EDIIARD I-I.FLETCIIER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Q Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents

1. A lamp construction comprising a shade, a substantially planar crossbrace extending radially inwardly from said shade and supporting a lampfixture thereon, said cross brace having tab means projecting outwardlyfrom its ends, said shade having slot means therethrough to provideapertures in said shade, said tab means being received in said aperturesso that said cross brace is rigidly connected to said shade, said crossbrace being mounted within said shade so that the plane of said crossbrace is substantially vertical, and said lamp fixture being fixed toand extending downwardly from said cross brace.
 2. A lamp constructioncomprising a shade, a substantially planar cross brace mounted withinand extending radially inwardly from said shade so that the plane ofsaid cross brace is substantially vertical, said cross brace having tabmeans projecting outwardly from its ends, said shade having slot meanstherethrough to provide apertures in said shade, said tab means beingreceived in said apertures so that said cross brace is rigidly connectedto said shade, a T-shaped aperture in a midportion of said cross brace,said T-shaped aperture being formed by a first opening which forms avertical leg that opens at the bottom edge of said cross brace and beingformed by a second opening which forms a horizontal leg extending acrossthe top of said first opening, a lamp fixture having a threaded end stemsupported by said cross brace, said threaded stem extending along thevertical extent of said vertical leg, groove means in diametricallyopposed portions of said stem, portions of said vertical leg extendinginto said groove means, and a nut threaded onto said stem and extendingalong the horizontal extent of said horizontal leg.
 3. A lampconstruction according to claim 2, wherein suspending means is attachedto said cross brace.